TY - JOUR
T1 - Establishment of Bathyplectes anurus (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae), a larval parasitoid of the alfalfa weevil, Hypera postica (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) in Japan
AU - Shoubu, Megumi
AU - Okumura, Masami
AU - Shiraishi, Akinori
AU - Kimura, Hidenori
AU - Takagi, Masami
AU - Ueno, Takatoshi
PY - 2005/8
Y1 - 2005/8
N2 - The alfalfa weevil invaded Japan in the early 1980s. In Southwestern Japan, the weevil infests Chinese milk vetch, which is a main source of honey products. Since apiarists avoid application of insecticides, four species of parasitoid wasps were introduced from the US into Japan for biological control of the weevil in 1988 and 1989. In 1996, one of the parasitoids, Bathyplectes anurus (Thomson) was recovered. Accordingly, we started the survey to assess the incidence and effectiveness of this parasitoid in suppressing the alfalfa weevil. B. anurus expanded its distribution during 1998-2003. In 1998 and 1999, the percentages of parasitism were mostly less than 5% but quickly increased to about 40% in 2003. The survey also showed that the extent of damage of the weevil on Chinese milk vetch decreased from 2001 to 2004; there was a negative correlation between the extent of weevil damage and the percentage parasitism one year previously. These results suggest that the parasitoid reduced damage by the alfalfa weevil.
AB - The alfalfa weevil invaded Japan in the early 1980s. In Southwestern Japan, the weevil infests Chinese milk vetch, which is a main source of honey products. Since apiarists avoid application of insecticides, four species of parasitoid wasps were introduced from the US into Japan for biological control of the weevil in 1988 and 1989. In 1996, one of the parasitoids, Bathyplectes anurus (Thomson) was recovered. Accordingly, we started the survey to assess the incidence and effectiveness of this parasitoid in suppressing the alfalfa weevil. B. anurus expanded its distribution during 1998-2003. In 1998 and 1999, the percentages of parasitism were mostly less than 5% but quickly increased to about 40% in 2003. The survey also showed that the extent of damage of the weevil on Chinese milk vetch decreased from 2001 to 2004; there was a negative correlation between the extent of weevil damage and the percentage parasitism one year previously. These results suggest that the parasitoid reduced damage by the alfalfa weevil.
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U2 - 10.1016/j.biocontrol.2005.04.009
DO - 10.1016/j.biocontrol.2005.04.009
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:22444440902
SN - 1049-9644
VL - 34
SP - 144
EP - 151
JO - Biological Control
JF - Biological Control
IS - 2
ER -